Handle for valve stems and the like



g 1952 L. R. DAVIDSON HANDLE FOR VALVE sTEMs AND THE 1.1m;

Filed May 20, 1946 Patented Aug. 19, 1952 This invention relates toimprovements. in handles for valve stems and the like.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a handle for valve stems or the like which is adaptedto be fixedly secured to the stem in any desired position relativethereto and which may be effectively engaged with serrated stems or withround stems havingia smooth periphery.

Second, to provide a handle for valve stems and the like having theseadvantages which when attached presents a finished appearance, and maybe attached by an unskilled person.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention willdefinitely appear from the description to follow. The invention ispointed out in the claims. a v

A structure which embodies the features of UNITED STATES PA ;os iCE,

' I HANDLE'FOR. VALVE STEMS'AND THE LIKEi 1 Leo Davidson, Sturgis, Mich.I i Application May-20, 1946, Serial No. 670,991

.4 Claims. (01. 2s7 53) the invention is clearly illustrated in theaccompanying drawing in which:

Fig; 1 is atop view of a faucet embodying my invention. l

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in vertical section ona line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 1, an Allen wrench foradjusting the threaded set screw type of jar member being indicated bydotted lines.

Fig. ,3 is a fragmentary inverted view with the threaded jaw member inretracted position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view mainly in section on line 44 of Fig. 2. s

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the blade-like jaw member.

Fig. 6 is an inverted view of a cross type of handle embodying theinvention, a valve stem being shown in section.

Fig. '7 is a side view of the handle of Fig. 6,

the stem being broken away.

In the accompanying drawing l represents a faucet and 2 a valve stem,the stem being without serrations. The handle 3 is provided with .adownwardly opening socket 4, the socket being elongated and havingparallel opposed 'sides 5 spaced approximately the diameter of the stem2 so as to laterally support the handle on the stem. The lengthwisedimension of the socket is substantially greater than that of, thediameter of the stem as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4.

.The handle has a threaded bore 6 opening at 2 1. l" v The jaw'member 8has 'a convex 'lu g-like boss l0 struckup centrally therefrom, this bossbeing in retaining engagement'with one wall of the socket.Forconvenience'in assembling the-jaw member 8 in the'handlepthe'handle'is provided with a recess H opening to'theilower end of therecess 1. Ii 1 The screw I2 is desirably of the Allen setscrew typehaving a wrench receiving recess'at its outer end adapted toreceiveawrench-indicated at l3. It is provided with aconcave recess 14 initsinner end which'results in a circular jaw 15. This screw, threaded intothe handle, clamps the stem against the jaw member 8, the stem beingsupportedlaterally"'relative to: the jaw by the side walls of:the'socket. This provides a verysecure'clampin'g engagement of thehandlewith the stem, bothzwith a smooth stem and witha serratedstemasshown at [6 in Fig. 4. The handle parts are the same asin Figs. 1to' 3. The axis of the screw l2iis disposed centrally of the cup shapedrecess l4, anda lineextending coincident with the axis of thesc'rew isdisposed parallel to and midwayj the parallel side walls 5 of the socket4 and inalinement with the platelike jaw member '8 between the-jaws 9thereof as shown in Figures 2 and 4.. This construction facilitatesdeep. penetration of the. jaws-into a stem of circular section in adirection-radially of the stem instead of at anangle to-the radius toprevent the handle from'shiftin'g" angularly sidewise on the stemwhenthe screw 12 is tightened andto preventa too'shallow anchorage of thejaws 9 into the stempresulting in the handle loosening on the stem. Thesidewall portions 5 of the elongated socket tbeingfparallel'to eachother instead of agenerallyxcircular shape and being of substantiallength :in 'thedirection'of the lengthof the socket -and=beingspaced'from each other a distance approximating the'diameter of the stemreceived" by.-the sockets: and

closely embracing the opposite;sides;of:said stem throughout the entirerange Eofadjustmentof the screw I2 while embedding the-'jawxlj. thereofand the jaws Sopposedlthietd into the stem, further facilitate deeppenetration of the jaws 3 and I5 into the stem in aydirection' radiallyof thestem instead of at amangleto the radiusto prevent too shallowanchorage 'of the jaws 9 into the stem, resultingin' thehandlelooseningon 3 formed, the socket and jaw parts being the same as described exceptthat they are formed in this boss or enlargement which results inconcealing the screw threaded bore.

I have illustrated and described my invention in highly practicalembodiments thereof. While the handle is especially designed for valvestems,

it is obviously adapted for use on any similar ceived in the socket, thesocket being of a length substantially exceeding the diameter of thestem permitting adjustment-of the handle relative to the stemlongitudinally of. the. parallel portions of the side. walls, thereof;said-handle. having a threaded bore open atiits outer end and opening toone end, of the socketpsaid. handle. having. a

slot-like recess opening to'the other end of the socket diametricallyopposite the bore, a platelike jaw member retainingly seated in. saidrecess and having; axially spaced V-shapedjaws projecting from therecess into the socket, and a screw'threadedinto said bore adapted toclamp the stem-; between the screwand jaws, the screw having a concavedinner end. providing a jaw: having an edge of circular shape forengaging. the stem, the axis of the screw being disposed centrally of:the circle, a' line extending coincident with'theaxis. of thescrew'being disposed parallel to andmid'way between the parallel side.wall portions of the socket and in alinement with the plate-like jawmemberintermediate. the axially spaced jaws thereof; said side wallportionsbeing disposed parallel tov each other for a substantialdistanceinthe direction. of the lengthofsaid elongatedisocket and disposed toclosely embrace the opposite. sides of said stem throughout the entire.range of adjustment of said. screw, said. screw adapteditoi embed thecircularly shaped'jaw thereof and the .V-shaped jaws Lopposed theretointo the stem of circular section. 1

2, A handle for valve stems and the: like of circular section, having"an. elongated inwardly openingsocket: having parallel side walls spacedfrom. each other a'distance approximating the diameter of. a stemadapted to be received in the socket, said socket being oiv a lengthsubstantially exceeding the diameter of the stem permitting adjustmentof thephandlerelative to the stem longitudinally of. the socket, saidhandle having a threaded. bore. openat its outer end and opening to oneend of. the socket, said handle having a slot-like recess opening to therotherend of the socket opposite the bore, a'plate-like jaw memberseated in's'aid recess and having a 'V-shaped jaw projecting from therecess into the socket, said jaw member'having central bosses projectingfrom the sides thereof andtretainingly' engaging the. walls'of therecess when: the jaw member ispressed into the recess, and a screwthreaded into said bore adapted to clamp the stem between the screw andjaw and completely housed in said bore, the screw having a coneavedinner end providing a jaw having an edgebf circularshape for engagingthe stem and being of such length as." to be entirely housed within thebore, the axis of the screw being disposed cen- 4 trally of the circle,a line extending coincident with the axis of the screw being disposedparallel to and midway between the parallel side walls and in alinementwith said plate-like jaw member, said side walls being disposed parallelto each other for a substantial distance in the direction of the lengthof the recess and disposed to closely embrace the opposite sides of saidstem throughout the entire range of adjustment of said screw, saidscrewadapted to embed the circularly shaped jaw thereof and the V-shaped jawopposed thereto into said stem.

3. A handle for valve stems and the like of circular section, having anelongated inwardly opening socket having parallel side walls spaced fromeach other a distance approximating the diameter of a stem adapted to bereceived in the socket, said socket being of a length substantiallyexceeding the diameter of the stem permitting adjustment of the handlerelative to the stem longitudinally of the socket, said handle having athreaded bore and opening toone end of the socket, said handle having aslot-like recess opening to the other end of thesocket opposite the.bore, a plate-like jaw member'seated in said recess and having a Vshaped jaw projecting from the recess into the socket, and a screwthreaded into said bore to clamp the stem between the screw and jaw,said screw having a jaw at its inner end providing an edge of circularshape for engaging thev stem, theiaxis of the screw being disposedcentrally of the circle,'a line extending coincident with'the axis ofthe screw being disposed parallel to and midway between said parallelside walls and in alinement with said plate-like jaw member, said sidewalls being disposed parallel to each other for a substantial distancein the direction of the length of the socket and disposed to closelyembrace the opposite sides of said stem throughout the entire range ofadjustment of said screw, said screw adapted to embed the jaw thereofand the V-shaped jaw opposed thereto into said stem.

4. A handle for valve stems and the like of circular section, having an.elongated inwardly opening socket having opposed parallel side wallsextending longitudinally of the socket, said parallel side walls beingspaced a distance approximating the'diameter of the stem, the socketbeing of a length substantially exceeding the diameter of the stem topermit adjustment of the handle relative to the stem longitudinally ofthe parallel side walls, said handle having a threaded bore opening toone end of the socket and at its outer end, there being a slot-likerecess opening to the other end of the socket opposite the bore, aplate-like jaw member fixedly seated in said recess and. having a jawprojectinginto the socket, and a screw threa'dedinto said bore to clampthe stem between the screw and jaw and in supported relation to thesides of the socket,

a line extending coincident with the axis of the screw beingdisposedparallel to and midway between said parallel side walls and inalinement with said plate-like jaw member, said side walls beingdisposed parallel to each other fora subrange ofadjustment of the screw,said screw adapted to embed said jaw into said; stem.

Leon: DAVIDSON.

(References on following page) 5' Number REFERENCES CITED 2,346,364 Thefollowing references are of record in the 2,377,541 file of this patent:2,401,816 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Number Name Date 791,548 Fischer June6, 1905 Number 2,153,950 Whinery Apr. 11, 1939 91,719 2,305,099 MorrisDec. 15, 1942 10 Name Date Dowe Apr. 11, 1944 Crampton June 5, 1945 DeGray June 11, 1946 Stuvel Mar. 1, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Country DateSweden Mar. 10, 1938

